“Well, Govan, if we are to die, let us die like men.”
Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne
Is there ANY ONE of you who doubts that this man said this when all hope (with honor) was lost and he proudly stood up to do what he saw as his duty?
Is there ANY ONE of you who doubts that this man knew the consequences of performing the duty he bound himself to do?
Is there ANY ONE of you who could stretch credulity enough to imagine these words EVER falling from the lips of the man in the White House?
Is there ANY ONE of you who could stretch credulity enough to imagine that the man in the White House EVER entertained the concept of SELF SACRIFICE FOR DUTY WITH HONOR?
Is there ANY ONE of you who thinks the mixed race child raised in privilege in Hawaii by doting white grandparents to now occupy the White House EVER stood any severe trials of character?
Is there ANY ONE of you who truly thinks that any omission of this courage is irrelevant in the character of the people we choose to lead us?
Why does this country insist on looking for leadership from men who belittle honor, patriotism, self sacrifice and courage while responding to any criticism of their ill advised social policies with charges of greed, inhumanity and racism or blame their failures on the actions of others as a matter of course?
General Cleburne, recently engaged to be married, was killed in the battle of Franklin!
General Cleburne was born in Ireland and lived in Arkansas.
Before the battle of Franklin, Tennessee (emphasis mine):
[Gen] Hood told his commanders his plans for a frontal assault against the Federal works and asked for opinions. Major Generals Nathan B. Forrest, B. Franklin Cheatham, and Cleburne all advised against an attack over open fields against entrenchments and artillery.
As General Cleburne mounted his horse to return to his division, Hood ordered:
“General, form your division to the right of the pike, letting your left overlap the same. General Brown will form on the left with his right overlapping your left. I wish you to move on the enemy. Give orders to your men not to fire a gun until you run the Yankee skirmish line from behind the first line of works in your front, then press them and shoot them in their backs as they run to their main line; then charge the enemy works. Franklin is the key to Nashville and Nashville is the key to independence.”
Cleburne replied, “General, I will take the works or fall in the attempt.”
…Before the fateful Battle of Franklin, General Cleburne held his last meeting with his brigade commanders on Breezy Hill. Brigadier General Daniel C. Govan felt that General Cleburne was “greatly depressed.” General Cleburne emphasized Hood’s orders that the Federal works must be carried by the point of the bayonet at all hazards. Govan saluted and said, “Well, General, few of us will ever return to Arkansas to tell the story of this battle.” Cleburne replied with a sentiment that was prevalent in most of the hearts of the men in the gallant Army of Tennessee: “Well, Govan, if we are to die, let us die like men.”